Back of Book: 

My name's Aidan Grey. I'm a twelve-year-old student at P.O.E. Academy, where we don't just study Edgar Allan Poe's works-we decode them. His stories aren't just literature; they're riddles and warnings. Prophetic clues are cleverly buried in every line, every stanza. Find the right words, and you might change someone's fate.

The academy says kids like me aren't ready to handle something so unpredictable. My best friend and I disagree. We've been practicing in secret, testing the boundaries of what we've learned.

But words, like secrets, can be dangerous, and the academy forgot to mention just how dangerous they can be…

Book Number: One

Genre: Middle Grade | Fantasy

Review: 🌟🌟🌟

The start of a middle grade series in which young students analyze the writings of Edgar Allan Poe to discover hidden prophecies. 

Aidan Grey is a twelve-year-old student at P.O.E. Academy. There, young students study the writings of Edgar Allan Poe in order to follow in the footsteps of the great prophet himself. Aidan and his best friend, Lenore, are anxious to get ahead in their studies, so they secretly study advanced works in the hope of uncovering a prophecy that no one has uncovered before. Unfortunately, there are rules for a reason, and these harder texts may have consequences that Aidan and Lenore never could have anticipated… 

My mom was actually the one to tell me about this series, as she is a fan of Edgar Allan Poe and was intrigued by it. I told her I might check it out someday when I had time, and I guess that day was today! 

I didn’t know going into this one that this series is middle grade. I think this is a very bold decision, because Poe’s work is very dark and macabre; one could really scar a child with most of his work if they decided to give it a read. This seems like one of those cases in which it’s good that the author is trying to interest their readers in a great author, but their methods are a tad suspicious because this series is literally written for twelve year olds. 

I wish each of these books would be longer and contain a bit more substance. Reading this first installment felt like reading the first few chapters of a longer work rather than a full story. It did a fine enough job of getting me interested in this strange world, but it is annoying that I’ll have to use so many Hoopla borrows if I ever want to make it through this entire series.

Also, the title has little or nothing to do with the actual happenings in this story. If I had to pin a most important work by Poe featured in this book, I’d say it’s “The Tell-Tale Heart.” So yeah, a tad strange that this one is named after “The Raven” instead. I get that “The Raven” is one of his most recognizable works, but it seems a bit misleading. 

Overall, “Poe Prophecies: The Raven” got me interested in P.O.E. Academy and the mysterious prophecies surrounding Edgar Allan Poe. I can’t say I’m absolutely hooked on this one as it was too short to persuade me one way or the other, but I’d definitely be willing to continue this series if the opportunity arose. It’s not a priority for me though.

Audiobook Note: This one is narrated by Alexander Kim. They seem to only narrate books for Anastasia, which is a little interesting, but maybe they are a friend of the author. Anyways, I think this is the first full audiobook of a middle grade novel I’ve ever listened to, which is a bit surprising. I thought that everything felt exaggerated in a way that would keep kids invested in the story, which is something I never thought about before this. I also think they distinguished the voices between the characters well, which is another thing that I think would help keep kids interested in what’s happening. I wouldn’t be opposed to continuing this series on audio either. 

Back of Book: 

Trust no one.

My name's Aidan Grey. I'm a twelve-year-old student at P.O.E. Academy, where we study the works of Edgar Allan Poe. Since joining a super-secret study group, I’ve learned new things and met new people. But something doesn’t smell right, and it’s not last week’s leftover sandwich in my book bag.

I’ve got a hunch that there’s more than meets the eye to this Vincent guy. So what if he has a powerful Kindred and can move about a room like a ghost? He’s friends with my cousin, and my cousin should be expelled for things he’s said about The Prophet.

Lenore thinks Vincent’s one of us, but anyone who’s friends with Bertrand can’t be trusted.

I’ll do whatever it takes to expose him for what he is.

Book Number: Two

Genre: Middle Grade | Fantasy

Review: ?

Back of Book: 

I won’t give up without a fight.

The Prophet had an ugly little surprise in store, and now it haunts me, threatening my future at P.O.E. Academy. There are unspoken risks, and I’m not referring to Lenore’s “accident” this time. Everything I’ve been working toward could vanish in an instant. After what happened to Theo, we need to tread carefully.

I wish that was our only concern. After some serious digging, and nights without sleep, we think we’ve finally uncovered the place where Disbelievers have been recruiting students. We plan to sneak inside, gather some intel, and then get out. No harm in that, right? Infiltrating the place isn’t going to be easy, but my friends have my back.

We’re smart, and we won’t get caught.

Book Number: Three

Genre: Middle Grade | Fantasy

Review: ?

Back of Book: 

I can’t sleep.

My name’s Aidan Grey. I’m a twelve—hold up—nearly thirteen-year-old student at P.O.E Academy, and I study the works of Edgar Allan Poe. My birthday is around the corner, but it’s hard to be excited with all this crushing anxiety.

Anxiety over what, you ask?

Well, it’s not because final exams are coming, and it’s definitely not because of the horrific incident at the Archives—although that, too, has me on edge. Something even more unnerving has been happening.

Vivid, life-like nightmares haunt me. I wake up groggy and confused, detached from reality. I don’t know what to do or who to tell.

My parents? My friends? The professor?

Maybe I’ll just handle this on my own...

Book Number: Four

Genre: Middle Grade | Fantasy

Review: ?

Back of Book: 

Do we get to choose?

The school year is almost over, and I’ve got a few projects to wrap up before I can relax and enjoy the break. Thanks to a clumsy mishap, I’m all out of holiday cheer.

We’ve also gotten more bad news about Theo, but I’m determined to help. I’m not sure if it will change things. It’s hard to tell if our destiny is really our own, or if we’re being pushed down a path by an outside force.

After discovering Bertrand’s newest secret, I don’t know if I trust the system anymore. I want to believe that prophets truly can make a difference, but can I?

Book Number: Four

Genre: Middle Grade | Fantasy

Review: ?

Back of Book: 

Seeing is believing.

Why couldn't winter break be an actual break?

My schedule's been packed with emotionally and mentally draining events for weeks. Lenore's birthday. Poe's birthday. A visit to the Prophets for Disaster Mitigation Center. I'm exhausted!

On top of that, I learned that modern prophets don't work the way I had once thought, and the revelation has left me confused and full of spite.

Shouldn't others' tragedies be approached with empathy? Isn't that what Poe deserved and what he would have wanted for us all?

Book Number: Six

Genre: Middle Grade | Fantasy

Review: ?

Back of Book: 

I promise I haven’t gone rogue.

New classes have started, and I’m already bored. Lenore and I are finally working regularly with Professor Grendel again, but something feels... off. It’s as if life has sped up, but we’re going in circles. The Disbelievers are still out there, destroying The Prophet’s work, and we aren’t moving fast enough to stop them.

Just when I thought things couldn’t get any more frustrating, Bertrand asked me to join them.

I wanted to say no. But then Vincent had a plan—and for some reason, I said yes.

Book Number: Seven

Genre: Middle Grade | Fantasy

Review: ?

Back of Book: 

Time is running out. 

One of us is in danger, and we have less than twenty-four hours to make our move. If we fail, it won’t just be one future on the line—it’ll be all of ours. But we can’t ask for help; no one can know about this. Not even Professor Grendel.

Acting now is the only choice, but it’s hard to think clearly when my heart’s at stake. The feelings I tried to bury are still there, raw and unshakable. Losing focus isn’t an option. I need to pull myself together before my demons tear me apart.

What’s worse is that I’m going to have to work with an enemy to save an ally.

Book Number: Eight

Genre: Middle Grade | Fantasy

Review: ?

Back of Book: 

Freedom comes at a cost.

I see things differently now. Everything’s changing, and no one will listen… The stories we’ve been told for years have holes in them. Despite what others say, I believe lives are literally at stake.

Now the Disbelievers are doubling down. They’re swooping in like vultures to feast on the chaos spilling from the Academy’s cracks. Someone is making calculated moves behind the scenes—lining us up like chess pieces. We’re running out of safe squares. Before we realized we were playing a dangerous game, they made the first move…

Book Number: Nine

Genre: Middle Grade | Fantasy

Review: ?